Ireland's education Minister, Mary Hanafin, has apparently had a change of heart over her controversial move to force all-Irish schools - Gaelscoileanna - to teach English at the start of second term in junior infants.
Her action, which followed a long-running dispute at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn, Tralee, Co Kerry, over not teaching English to junior and senior infants. A Department of Education inspectors report, written last year, stated the lack of English tuition had a significant impact on pupil outcomes in English.
A directive on the new policy which was due to be sent out to schools this week has been shelved and the minister has offered to talk to those bodies which criticised her plans.
Minister Hanafin must have realised that she faced open revolt if the controversial directive had gone ahead.
Irish language organisations had reacted angrily when the move was first mooted and the principal of at least one Gaelscoil vowed not to implement the terms of the ministerial circular. Donal O hAinifein, the principal of Gaelscoil Mhichil Chiosoig, Ennis, Co Clare, and the parents' representative on the Irish language education advisory body, COGG, said he believed other Gaelscoileanna would take similar action.
In addition the Irish National Teachers Organisation, had also expressed opposition and criticised the Department of Education inspectors report for being "partial and incomplete".
The Minister insists her action 'was based on the good educational interests of pupils' and a spokesperson for the Minister said earlier this week that a meeting 'would be arranged to achieve common ground'.
However, how much 'common ground' can be achieved is unclear. Gaelscoileanna Chief Executive, Blathnaid Ni Ghreachain, said the Minister's original actions had no educational, expert or linguistic basis and that it dismissed international expertise as well as recommendations from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Meanwhile, An Foras Patrunachta, the patron body for more than 50 all-Irish primary schools, said the plan flew in the face of the guidelines laid down with regard to the teaching of Literacy.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
19/05/07
■